COVID-19, Parental Job Losses, Online Learning Anxiety, and Social Support of Hospitality and Tourism Students

ABSTRACT The study examined online learning anxiety and the consequences of COVID-19 induced parental job losses on the social support systems of hospitality and tourism students. An online questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 434 hospitality and tourism students across tertiary institutions in Ghana. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that students were most anxious about online learning, particularly the challenges of internet usage while family assistance was most available during the COVID-19 pandemic followed by support from people deemed special. Students who had their guardians losing their jobs during the pandemic were more nervous with online learning and reported lower levels of social support from family, friends, special relations, and the university. The implication of these findings for managers of academic institutions are discussed.